Dried out bulb coverings - a new dumb question

[wolfie]

Should the papery dry brown coverings on my orchids bulbs be removed or should they just stay on? Just want to know in case they should come off.....they are not very attractive!

[slippery_biscuit]

It's my understanding that under some circumstances, the bract can provide a location for critters to set up camp. Not always, just sets the stage for opportunity. Beyond that, it is just cosmetic. Sometimes I take mine off, usually after they sort of start to loosen up on their own.

[Rocinante]

That's not a dumb question, Wolfie and slippery biscuit laid it out very nicely for us. Just don't try to force them off before they're ready.

[patticake]

I take them off once they're real papery. I think they look better. It's really up to you.

[patlee]

Yea, it's really a judgment call. I just happen to freak at the mere sight of a bug of any sort, so off they come! Just be careful--Fred had a post where he showed us pictures of lots of new growths coming from that area!

[jerrymeola]

The fact you do not like the way they look is enough reason to take them off. You see them on Orchids so often because commercial growers do not want to pay the wages for someone to clean them.

If you go to an orchid show you will see the plants for sale cleaned for a better presentation. Of course plants for judging are immaculate.

A little soap and water with an old toothbrush works wonders on getting rid of the tiniest pieces.

[wolfie]

Cool! Thank you! I'm going to go and groom now! LOL

[11Orchid126]

The sarong protects the pseudobulb until it matures, then it's no longer needed and dries up, so it's totally unnecessary to the plant.

[wolfie]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I had a sarong once! I have removed those that were offensive....very dry, peeling down even. Yes, theplants look much better. Also cut my kiki off as it had turned quite green overnight, and have potted it up in a pot just its size.....I do hope it takes. This is #10 orchid plant for me now. In 94 I was living in San Jose, CAL and my husband and I decided to lookinto orchids. We bought two very expensive catts and a dendrobium and a cym along ith all the supplies. Sadly we lived in an apartment then with southern exposure - so hot when you came home at night you had to use a potholder to open the front door. Of course all of our windows had the same exposure as well. How quickly my beautiful orchids gave up the ghost. Of course hubby blamed me....... We had no humidity in that apartment and it was ever so hot in the apartment. We didn't have humidity trays. So we gave up on orchids. When I saw one over a year ago now at Lowe's for $5.00 we bought it. Hubs said if it grows and is still around next year I will get you another one. Well it has thrived in spite of the care it received. It was in the east window, but no humidity tray and other than watering, not much else in the way of care. So in April of this year he got me the phal - which is looking way better today by the way! And then surprised me by ordering the 5 and now I have 10.....who knows what will happen next year?!

[patlee]

Husbands can be great enablers. It makes them happy to make us happy and so who are we to stifle that thought? My last five chids are ones that my DH brought home. Although I told him that I was going to be very picky because space is becoming an issue,last night he came home with a big,tall(albeit beautiful) chartreuse den with a purple lip. I do love it and will manage to squeeze it in somewhere. It's not such a bad problem to have, LOL, and yours is probably just getting started...Enjoy!!

[wolfie]

I'm feeling like a new mama tonight. Groomed the 6 new chids (I'm larning the lingo) and misted them this morning and filled their humidity tray once again..... Then got very brave and noticed that the kiki on my oldest plant (the Den-Phal) was green. Yesterday it was brown, but I started misting it and when I looked at it this morning it looked healthy and the roots were green/white! So I got very brave today and took a sterilized razor blade and cut it off the plant and potted it up in a tiny pot....this brings my orchid pots filled now to 10! Yea! I love even numbers! I'm already looking for more orchids.... And the Phal that I repotted last night is getting very plumped up and happier looking! I truly hope this lovely plant makes it!

It's been a good day. And I can't thank you all enough for your wonderful advice and hand holding!